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Friday, August 31, 2012

AUTHOR INTERVIEW & GIVEAWAY - Katie Reus

We here at Paranormal Addicts are very excited to have Katie Reus on the blog.

She has a new book releasing September 4th.

Relax and enjoy her interview. Katie is also kind enough to include a print copy of Primal Possession for our US followers.

Can you tell us a little about
yourself?

I’m
a writer who lives in the South. I love red wine, visiting old cemeteries and
the beach. I’m obsessed with wearing flip-flops and reading books on my kindle.
I write romantic suspense and paranormal romance for Carina Press, Harlequin
Nocturne, NAL/Signet Eclipse and I’m also self-publishing.

If you didn’t write, what other
profession would you have selected?

I
started writing fairly young after working a slew of jobs I hated (and after
changing majors many times in college) so I honestly don’t know. It would have
to be something that revolved around books.

What profession do you think you
would hate?

A
lawyer or anything in the legal field.

Who is your favorite author?

I
have to pick just one?? Depending on genre, I vary. For paranormal romance, I’d
probably narrow down my fave at the moment to Sherrilyn Kenyon.

What is your favorite genre to
read?

Romance!

Do you recall how your interest
in writing originated?

I
read a book (not a romance) and at the end the female protagonist made this big
life changing decision to follow her dream and do what she wanted in life and
it was like that proverbial light bulb went off and I realized I wanted to be a
writer. Specifically a romance writer.

What surprised you the most about
the writing/publishing process?

How
long everything takes. From the time I contracted my first book in the Moon
Shifter series (Alpha Instinct) with NAL I think it was about two years until
it was published.

What, in your opinion, are the
most important elements of good writing?

Hmm,
I’m not sure, lol. I guess first, strong characters. They don’t have to always
be likeable or have the same belief system, but I think readers need to either
be able to relate to them in some way or at least understand their motivation.
And of course, any book, especially a paranormal romance or romantic suspense
needs a strong plot. For romance, I also think they need to be highly emotional
at their core.

How long does it usually take for
you to write a book?

For
novellas, about one to two weeks. For novels, it just depends. Some I can
finish in two months while some take 3 or 4 months. External things like my
family (namely my one year old) affect productivity. Not to mention I do a lot
of writing related things like guest blog posts, interact on social media
sites, and of course research that take up a lot of my reading time.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s
block? If so, what do you do to get out
of it?

Thankfully,
I never have. When I’m working on a project I write every day and even if my
work is total crap, I can delete it the next morning. That’s not to say I don’t
struggle with scenes because I absolutely do. That’s what friends are for! I
bounce ideas off any number of writer friends when I’m trying to plot.

Who do you ask to read your work
and give their opinion? From those opinions what helps you the most and how do
you keep from picking it apart?

I
have two critique partners. One is really focused on the emotional aspects of
the story while the other is more technical and I draw strength from both of
them. I take about 85% of their notes and implement them into my work but I
think I’m at a point in my writing that I trust myself and my ability to write
that I just don’t pick anything apart. I’m too involved in my story and
characters to do that.

Do you have a favorite book that
you have written?

It’s
actually the one I’m currently working on. It will be the fourth book in my
Moon Shifter series and it’s scheduled to release in Summer 2013. And the next
book I start working on will likely be my favorite at the time. I always get
really invested in whatever story I’m working on.

We would love for you to paint a
picture for us of you writing your books.
Do you always write in your office?
Do you ever go outside on a beautiful day and write there? Are you listening to music when you
write? Drinking wine? Do you do your best work during the day? At night?

I
either work in my office or on my kitchen table on my laptop. Where I live now,
I never go outside or anywhere else with my computer unless I can help it
because I enjoy writing from home. No music. Sometimes wine! And time of day
really doesn’t matter. I tend to write during my son’s naptimes and at night when
he’s sleeping because that’s when the house is quiet ;)

All
she could think about was Liam. Liam with his broad shoulders, dark hair, and
coffee brown, deep knowing eyes. When that man looked at her, she got shivers.
The good kind. Heat bloomed between her legs when he was around. He didn’t have
to do anything other than train that heated gaze on her and she wanted to melt
into his arms. He might be built like a linebacker, but his hands were gentle.
At least the few times he’d caressed her face, they had been.

Her
image of him was so clear she could almost see him now. In front of her. As she
stared into space, she frowned. Then blinked. Good God, he was in front of her.
Walking straight toward her.

“Crap,”
she muttered. Tensing, she braced herself. She’d thought if he saw her leaving
her bookstore—because she’d seen him watching—with another guy on a Friday
night, he’d get the hint and leave her alone. If it was anyone else, she might
think he was acting like some sort of creepy stalker, but she knew him better
than that. As one of the few lupine shifters who lived in their town, Liam had
tried to warn her about some crazy fanatic group that wanted to hurt humans
involved with shifters. At twenty-eight she’d been taking care of herself for a
long time— and besides, they weren’t involved, so there was no reason for some
fanatics to come after her.

Should
have known Liam wouldn’t give up so easily. The maître d’ led him and another
huge guy directly to the table next to hers. There was a decent amount of space
between them, but for the way he was drilling his gaze into her, he might as
well have been sitting at the same table.

She
flicked a quick look at his dark-haired friend, who cracked a small, almost
amused smile until she glared at him—then she focused on Liam. “What are you
doing here?” she asked through gritted teeth. It wasn’t for the damn food. That
much she knew.

He
shrugged as if it should be obvious. “Eating.”

She
narrowed her eyes at him. “You know what I mean. I’m on a date,Liam.”

At
the word “date” those espresso eyes of his got even darker. Under normal
circumstances she might have thought it was the light playing tricks on her,
but she knew better. She’d seen him enraged once before when a man had tried to
mug her. His eyes had changed then. The whites had almost disappeared and she’d
found herself staring into not-quite-human eyes. He’d later explained that it
sometimes happened when his inner wolf wanted to take over. It had scared her
then but not now. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. Not physically. He might be
dominating and sometimes too pushy, but he cared for her. In another world she
might allow herself to care for him too. But they had no chance and she wasn’t going
to risk getting her heart broken and losing her only family due to involvement
with Liam. Especially when anything that happened between them couldn’t last.
He barely looked thirty, but she knew he was over a hundred years old.

“Get
rid of him.” He didn’t raise his voice, but there was a razor-sharp edge to it.

Maybe
his tone should have made her nervous, but it just infuriated her. He
infuriated her with all his arrogance. “Or what?”

“Or
I’ll do it for you.”

She
balled her hands into fists under the table. “You are so . . .
so . . .”

In
a fluid, graceful motion that reminded her he was more than human, he stood up
and slid into the chair across from her. As if he had every right to do so. He
half smiled and her traitorous libido roared to life. Why did the soft
candlelight have to play off his features, making him even better looking?
“Charming, handsome—”

His
smart-ass response annoyed her even more, but it also allowed her to find her
voice. “Arrogant and annoying,” she said in a loud whisper, barely containing
the need to shout at him.

Will we be seeing a following
book to this story?

Yes!
The next book in this series (Mating Instinct) will be out in March 2013 and
the main characters from Primal Possession will definitely be in it.

How did you come up with the
character December?

She
developed organically. She’s introduced in Alpha
Instinct, the first book in the series, and originally I hadn’t realized
she’d be the heroine in the second book but as I was writing Alpha Instinct it
just developed that way.

If you could pick one actor to
portray Liam on the big screen who would it be and why?

Gerard
Butler. I love that man’s voice!

Was there anything you find
particularly challenging when writing this book?

Since
it’s the second book in a series making sure everything stayed consistent is
always a concern.

What were your feelings when you
first saw the cover of your finished book?

Loved
it!

Thank
you so much for having me here today! I’d love to offer up a print copy of
Primal Possession to one commenter (US only). Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

A little about Katie: I’ve been reading romance
since a young age—ever since I discovered my mom’s hidden stash. Luckily the
addiction stayed with me into adulthood. I write paranormal romance and sexy
romantic suspense for Carina
Press, Harlequin
Nocturne, and NAL/Signet
Eclipse. To learn more about me please visit my website, my blog, facebook or
find me on twitter @katiereus.

Be sure to check out all of Katie's Moon Shifter books!!

Fear has a scent. So does desire…

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

Novella:Lupine shifter Nikan Lawless has it bad for Esperanze Cordona, the sweet and curvy woman who only views him as a friend. But when Nikan is assigned to act as Esperanze’s bodyguard during a weekend education conference, he knows it’s the perfect opportunity to seduce her off her feet—away from the pack.To put his plan into motion Nikan cancels one of their hotel rooms, giving them time to get to know one another in a whole different way. But when a man from Esperanze’s past shows up in need of help, Nikan must shield her from a group of dangerous rogue shifters, all while trying to prove that they’re destined to be mates.

To protect her, he will unleash the beast within…As his pack’s second-in-command, lupine shifter Liam Armstrong gives orders and takes what he wants—until he meets red-headed, blue-eyed December McIntyre. Liam knows the human beauty is his intended mate the moment he sees her, but December is far too strong-willed to accept his protection.

December, whose brother is the town sheriff, has every reason to mistrust shifters after one killed her youngest sibling. But the forceful and handsome Liam has gotten under her skin in a way she hadn’t thought possible, and the desire she feels for him is almost too much to bear.

When a radical hate group targets all humans known to sympathize with paranormal beings, December is attacked in her bookstore. Reluctantly, she turns to the only one who can help her: Liam. And he is going to take her to places within herself she never knew existed.

Thank you Katie for stopping by and we wish you much success on your new release!

Come on back soon!

Ask Katie a question or two or just share why you enjoy paranormal novels. We would love to hear from you.

I'll leave the giveaway open until midnight, September 7th.

Winner will be selected using random.org.

Don't forget your email address!

GOOD LUCK!!Winner is Bboo04.

Random Sequence Generator

20 comments:

I love Paranormal romance, always have, always will. I wish I could ask some questions, but as I've never read any of Moon shifter's series, I don't really know much about them, other than I REALLY wanna read them, and they are going on my TBR list as fast as I can add them. Good luck to everyone who enters.

Thanks for a fun post and congrats Katie on the newest release! I just got Alpha Instinct and I can't wait to start reading :) I love PNR b/c of the fact that literally anything is possible. I love the vast worlds that authors create and how they can make paranormal creatures and magic normal. I've always loved Scifi/fantasy and so having that mixed in w/ my other love, romance, is a win win for me!!! :)

Paranormal romance is my favorite genre of book to read although I actually do read a little of everything. But paranormal books have that extra element of danger. You never can quite predict exactly what will happen because the laws of the norm no longer apply. It makes paranormal books more thrilling to read in my opinion. Congrats on this new release! Sounds fabulous.LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

Paranormal Romance leave me in a world where I can be a kick ass woman or a shape shifter ,vampire,etc They take me to a world of make believe that is believable and it's just flat out great to read. Thanks for the giveaway.

I absolutely love paranormal books because in a way they take you out of this world and twist it up into an exciting place where anything is possible and the characters tend to be strong, dangerous and protective and it doesn't hurt that they are usually sexy as hell too. :) Also Katie I was wondering who is your favorite character to write? Bboo04(AT)hotmail(DOT)com

I cannont wait for this book. I am going to preorder it now. I loved Alpha Instinct. I will have to reread it this weekend so I will be all caught up. :) Thanks for sharing Katie!slinkydennis@yahoo.com

After I discovered paranormal romance books, that was it. I fell in love with all the different paranormal creatures and their attitude. I love that you can get a heroine that could totally kick some butt. Plus paranormal books take ALPHA to the extreme(in a good way). How many more books are planned for this series?

Thanks so much to everyone who has stopped by! And to answer a few questions:

Bboo, that actually depends on what book I’m working on. Whatever book I’m involved in, chances are, that character is my favorite at the moment. But if you’re asking specifically about Primal Possession, then I’m going to say December. I had a lot of fun writing her.

Books4Me: Right now I have 5 novels and 2 novellas contracted so after Mating Instinct there will be at least two more novels and one novella out. And yes, I actually just contracted with NAL for a romantic suspense series which I’m very excited about ;)

And thank you again to Toni for having me and again, sorry about being late to the party! I meant to get by earlier *g*

DanniT - I currently have 5 books and 2 novellas contracted for the series though I'd love to write more :)

Amber, yes, I have two other series in the works. I'm self-publishing the Red Stone Security series (they're shorter books), and they're all romantic suspense. I've also just signed with NAL for a new romantic suspense series with secret agents and lots of danger and romance. We haven't named the series yet though.

Tina, I fell in love with pnr because of vampires (Kenyon and Ward to be specific) but I've always loved shifter legend/lore so for my own writing I was more drawn to write about shifters. And sometimes I'll create a soundtrack for a book but I don't actually listen to music when writing. I can't have lyrics playing or I'll be too distracted :)